Mumbai Rock’s first foal, Splendoronthegrass (So You Think {NZ}) has been a tremendously consistent performer in the McClures’ black and lime colours for Lindsay Park then and David Vandyke, winning five races and being placed in a Listed Sunshine Coast Cup in 2021, while Jazz Etude (I Am Invincible) has won three of her six starts in Japan for her owner Kazuko Yoshida.
But it is Mumbai Rock’s 2-year-old filly by I Am Invincible, Mumbai Jewel, who could really light the pedigree up this autumn after her impressive fast-finishing success for Annabel Neasham in the Pierro Plate at Randwick on Saturday.
Carrying those same Morning Rise colours, Mumbai Jewel surged late for jockey Sam Clipperton to break through for her first win at her third start.
The McClures had sold her through the Coolmore Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $575,000 to Neasham and her bloodstock consultant Brian McGuire but opted to stay involved along with industry heavyweights Coolmore and Kia Ora Stud.
“We are always happy to do that with a filly that we think is exceptional. We are always happy to stay in for half, as it gives us a bit of cash flow and it gives us that interest going forward,” Robert McClure told TDN AusNZ.
The connection between Coolmore, Kia Ora and Morning Rise Stud is bloodstock agent James Bester, who works for all three parties and, who having signed for Mumbai Rock as a yearling in 2013, is keen to see Mumbai Jewel do her best for the family.
So too is McClure, who feels that the plan for the family is starting to come together.
“It was very good to see. We have been waiting for her to do it. Annabel has been very, very confident that she’d step up, so we were happy to see that,” he said.
“The way she finished off would give us hope that she would be very strong whether it be the 1200 metres or the 1400 metres.”
Mumbai Jewel will now tackle the G2 Riesling S. at Randwick on March 5, with a decision then to be made whether she can measure up to the G1 Golden Slipper S. or possibly be aimed at races like the G1 Inglis Sires’ or the G1 Champagne S.
With Splendoronthegrass being set for further stakes targets this campaign, performing well in a trial last week, and Jazz Etude pursuing international black type, 2022 could be the year that makes the family of Mumbai Rock, who was the most expensive yearling filly in Australia in 2013, when the McClures purchased her.
“It was the first time I’ve taken my wife to the sales and she bought her!” McClure recalled of that 2013 Inglis Easter Sale.
“James Bester is our confidant and he just thought that she was by far the best filly in the Sale. As it turned out, so did James Harron and they are both pretty good judges. He was the one we had to get over the top of to buy her.”
Mumbai Rock had an excellent international pedigree, with her dam Mani Bhavan (USA) (Storm Boot {USA}) a winner of the G1 Spinaway S. who had been purchased for US$650,000 (AU$912,000) by Bester on Kia Ora’s behalf at the 2009 Fasig-Tipton Mixed Sale.
The 2013 Inglis Easter Sale was particularly strong at the top end, with the Redoute’s Choice half-brother to Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) fetching $5 million, while there were five seven-figure Fastnet Rock yearlings.
Put into work with David Hayes, and then Gai Waterhouse and onto Stuart Webb, Mumbai Rock’s career never quite took flight, curtailed by injury.
“As it turned out, she won a race, but she had an issue and that was the end of her on the track,” McClure said.
“But as a broodmare, she’s produced Splendoronthegrass, who is stakes-placed and we are hoping to get her a stakes win this year and Jazz Etude, who is in Japan. She has won three or four races and we are hoping she might get some black type as well.
“If this girl (Mumbai Jewel) can win black type too, it justifies everything.”
Story from TDN Aus NZ
